Apparatus to produce a riveted connection

ABSTRACT

An apparatus wherein a riveted connection is formed between two strips. A rivet is held in an upper die member or dolly directly above a lower die member having an opening therein. Superposed strips are positioned adjacent the lower die member covering the opening therein. Relative movement between the die members causes the body of the rivet to punch a hole through the superposed strips. The extending end of the rivet body is then deformed to form a closure head portion whereby the strips are rigidly connected.

United States Patent Doring [4 1 June 27, 1972 [54] APPARATUS TO PRODUCEA RIVETED CONNECTION [72} Inventor: Erich During, Thalbachstra 8,

' Moosburg, Upper Bavaria, Germany [22] Filed: July 6, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: $2,414

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.643,154, June 2,

1967, abandoned.

498,423 5/1893 Cummings ..227/53 3,022,687 2/ 1962 Richards.. ....227/51X 3,478,567 11/1969 Galatia ..227/61 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS716,430 1/1942 Germany ..227/51 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer,Jr. Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard and Flynn [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatuswherein a riveted connection is formed between two strips. A rivet isheld in an upper die member or dolly directly above a lower die memberhaving an opening therein. Superposed strips are positioned adjacent thelower die member covering the opening therein. Relative movement betweenthe die members causes the body of the rivet to punch a hole through thesuperposed strips. The extending end of the rivet body is then deformedto form a closure head portion whereby the strips are rigidly connected.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Pk-JEMEUJUI: 2 7 m2 sum ear 2 AQQ APPARATUSTO PRODUCE A RIVETED CONNECTION This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 643,154, filed June 2,1967, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for producing a rivet connection.

To connect several layers of strips, it is known to provide bores in thesuperposed strips and then the rivet is placed therethrough. The stripsare then pressed together by means of a rivet setter and the closurehead portion is formed by means of a riveting snap.

In the case of riveters, the machine automatically carries out thedrilling, inserting and deforming of the rivet. As soon as the rivet isshaped, the sheet metal is automatically guided for subsequentoperations thereon.

Said known apparatuses have the disadvantage of requiring a plurality ofoperations to produce the desired rivet connection. Thus, they areexpensive and have a relatively low effec tiveness and efficiency. Onthe other hand, the riveted connection is long lasting so that one oftenaccepts the above disadvantages because of the advantage of the desireddurability.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide an apparatus which makespossible an increased productivity by reducing the operations and thusreducing the cost of the rivet connection.

To attain said purpose, the invention provides that the body of a rivetheld by a dolly is used as a punch and is pressed through the strips tobe connected, which strips are resting on a die. Thus, the operationsknown in the prior art of drilling and of pressing together of thestrips is no longer required. Furthermore, the apparatus of theinvention makes it possible to easily connect large area workpieces.This has so far been technologically very difficult and complicatedbecause the rivet connections caused a moving of the strips and thebores had to be reamed out so that a fitting or opening was made for therivets to be inserted.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the die is used toform the closure head portion after the body of the rivet has beenpressed through the strips. The die advantageously fulfills twofunctions so that the riveting snap and the rivet setter are notrequired. This also reduces the cost and increases the effectiveness andefficiency. Since the body of the rivet is used as a punch, exact sizedopenings for the rivets are obtained and a rivet connection of highquality and great rigidity is achieved.

According to a still further embodiment of the invention, the die in theapparatus is constructed in one piece having a conical opening toreceive the body of the rivet, which body is used as a punch, and havinga device to fon'n the closure head portion of the rivet. Therefore, thedie is advantageously a simple structural element being practicallytrouble-free, being inexpensive to manufacture and easy to replace. Theclosure head portion of the rivet can be easily created by overpressingor deforming the body of the rivet extending from the strips on the die.

The device to form the closure head portion of the rivet can, accordingto a further characteristic of the invention, be a slot in the upperface of the die, the width of which is smaller than the diameter of theunformed body of the rivet. Thus, an axially directed force applied tothe head of the rivet will cause the portion of the rivet body extendingoutwardly from the strips on the opposite side from the head andlaterally beyond the width of the slot to be sheared from the body ofthe rivet and deformed as same is driven into the slot to cause a flowof rivet material laterally of the slot so that rivet material will bepositioned between the upper face of the die and the bottommost strip. Acontinued axially directed force on the rivet head will further deformthe laterally displaced rivet material to urge same into firm engagementwith the bottom surface of the bottommost strip to firmly clamp the twoor more strips between said laterally displaced rivet material and thehead of the rivet.

The invention will be disclosed more in detail by the embodimentillustrated in the drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the operation of the method of the invention toproduce the rivet joint;

FIG. 5 is a top view along the line V-V of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the rivet joint taken along the line VI-VI ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the layers of material and therivet; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a modified embodiment of the joint.

Two strips 1 and 2 are to be connected. They are placed one on top ofthe other on a die 3. A rivet 4 which is held by a dolly 4A on an upperdie head is brought exactly above a conical opening 5 in the die 3. Uponlowering of the rivet in the direction of arrow I, the body of the rivet6 is pressed through the superposed strips which rest on the die 3.Thus, the body of the rivet 6 is punched through the strips 1 and 2 andis inserted into the conical opening 5 (FIG. 2).

The strips 1 and 2 together with the inserted rivet 4 are then removedfrom the opening 5 and from the die 3 or said die 3 is lowered so thatboth strips and the inserted rivet are exposed. For example, the die ismoved sidewardly and is thus positioned with the slot 7 underneath theunshaped body of the rivet.

The strips and the rivet are lowered or the die is lifted so that thebody of the rivet still arranged on the upper die head is pressed intothe slot 7. Since the width 8 of the slot 7 is smaller than the diameterof the body of said rivet, an axially directed force, that is a forceparallel to the arrow I, applied to the head of the rivet will cause theportion A (FIG. 5) of the rivet body 6 extending laterally beyond thewidth of the slot 7 to be sheared from the body of the rivet anddeformed as same is driven into the slot to cause a flow of rivetmaterial laterally of the slot so that rivet material 9 (FIG. 6) will bepositioned between the upper face of the die and the bottommost strip 2.A continued axially directed force on the rivet head 4 will furtherdeform the laterally displaced rivet material 9 to urge same into firmengagement with the bottom surface of the strip 2 to firmly clamp thestrips 1 and 2 between the material 6A and the head of the rivet.

The connected strips are lifted or the die 3 is lowered whereby theprocess of the invention to manufacture a riveted connection iscompleted.

Many different shapes of rivets can be used in this process. Thematerial of the strips to be connected can be metal, plastic or similarmaterials.

The rivet used here can be provided advantageously with grooves alongits body and can have a point on its leading end. Thus, the rivet can beeasily pressed through the two strips with the grooves becoming embeddedin the strips.

Furthermore, if desired, a washer or disk can be used between thefinished closure head portion 9 and the outer surface of the adjacentstrip 2 to further improve the connection between the strips.

If riveters are used, each rivet can be advantageously held on amagnetic dolly by means of their die heads. The sheet metals which areto be connected are automatically placed on a die which comprises aplurality of dies 3. The rivets are moved down and pressed through thesheet metals at their respective places. After the sheet metals arelifted or the die is lowered, and after relative sideward movementbetween the sheets and the die, a closure head portion is simultaneouslyformed on each end of the rivet bodies which were pressed through themetal by a renewed lowering of the sheet metals or a lifting of the die.The riveting process is thus completed.

Said riveter has a high productivity due to a simultaneous use of theprocess of the invention on a plurality of rivets.

According to FIG. 8, a rivet 10 having a cylindrically shaped head 11can be used to perform the process of the invention. Said rivet 10 isespecially suitable for use in riveters because of the plane surface ofthe cylindrically shaped head 11. After the body of the rivet has beenpressed like a punch through the strips positioned one on top of theother, a renewed lowering of the rivet and of the strips produces thecircular flared portion 12 by pressing the body of the rivet extendingfrom the strips on the planar portion of the front face of the die. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the slot 7 of the die 3 canadvantageously be omitted and a good rivet connection is still achieved.For forming the flared portion of the rivet, the front face of the dieis advantageously used, which thus results in a further advantageoussimplification of the process of the invention.

According to FIG. 9, a flush rivet 13 of the invention can be used toconnect two strips 1 and 2. Here again, the body of said rivet is usedas a punch and is punched through the strips and is arranged therein.After being punched into said strips, said body is deformed to fonn theflared portion as explained above.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed above for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized thatvariations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including therearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A simplified riveting apparatus, comprising:

a movable dolly for holding at least one rivet having an elongated bodyportion and a head at one end thereof;

a die positioned adjacent said dolly and supporting a plurality ofsheets which are to be riveted together, said die having a recess in thefront facing thereof covered by said sheets and alignable with the bodyportion of said rivet when said dolly and said die are in a firstrelatively located position, said dolly being movable toward said die topunch said rivet through said sheets when said dolly and said die are insaid first relatively located position, said die further having a grooveof a width smaller than the diameter of the body portion of said riveton the front face thereof laterally adjacent said recess for forming aclosure head on the body portion of said rivet, said groove beingalignable with said body portion of said rivet when said dolly and saiddie are in a second relatively located position, said dolly beingmovable toward said die to effect a shearing of the portion of the rivetmaterial exceed ing the width of said groove and a simultaneousdeforming of same to position the sheared and deformed rivet materialbetween the front face of said die and the lower surface of thebottommost sheet to securely clamp said plurality of sheets between saidrivet head and said sheared and deformed rivet material.

2. In a riveting apparatus for use with a rivet having an elongated bodyportion and a head at one end, the combination comprising:

a die having means defining a recess in the front facing of said die andclosure head forming means on the front facing of said die laterallyadjacent said recess for forming a closure head on the body portion ofsaid rivet; and

a dolly for holding at least one of said rivets, said dolly and said diebeing adapted l to move toward and away from each other during eachcycle of operation and (2) to alter the relative lateral locationtherebetween between first and second locations once during each cycleof relative movement of said dolly and said die toward and away fromeach other, said recess in said die being aligned with said body portionof said rivet in said first relative location during a first cycle ofoperation, said closure head forming means being aligned with said bodyportion of said rivet in said second relative location during a secondcycle of operation.

3. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means forforming the closure head on the body portion of said rivet is a groovein the front face of the die laterally spaced from said recess having awidth smaller than the diameter of the body portion of said rivet.

4. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means forforming the closure head on the body portion of said rivet is a planarposition of the front face of said die.

5. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rivet has acylindrical head and wherein said body portion thereof is to be pressedthrough the sheets to be riveted,

whereby the body portion of said rivet projecting from the sheet may bemoved toward said die to form said closure head when said dolly and saiddie are in said second relatively located position.

6. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rivet has ahead on one end which is imbedable into said sheets so that said head isflush with one side thereof and the body portion of said rivet may beformed to provide a closure head.

1. A simplified riveting apparatus, comprising: a movable dolly forholding at least one rivet having an elongated body portion and a headat one end thereof; a die positioned adjacent said dolly and supportinga plurality of sheets which are to be riveted together, said die havinga recess in the front facing thereof covered by said sheets andalignable with the body portion of said rivet when said dolly and saiddie are in a first relatively located position, said dolly being movabletoward said die to punch said rivet through said sheets when said dollyand said die are in said first relatively located position, said diefurther having a groove of a width smaller than the diameter of the bodyportion of said rivet on the front face thereof laterally adjacent saidrecess for forming a closure head on the body portion of said rivet,said groove being alignable with said body portion of said rivet whensaid dolly and said die are in a second relatively located position,said dolly being movable toward said die to effect a shearing of theportion of the rivet material exceeding the width of said groove and asimultaneous deforming of same to position the sheared and deformedrivet material between the front face of said die and the lower surfaceof the bottommost sheet to securely clamp said plurality of sheetsbetween said rivet head and said sheared and deformed rivet material. 2.In a riveting apparatus for use with a rivet having an elongated bodyportion and a head at one end, the combination comprising: a die havingmeans defining a recess in the front facing of said die and closure headforming means on the front facing of said die laterally adjacent saidrecess for forming a closure head on the body portion of said rivet; anda dolly for holding at least one of said rivets, said dolly and said diebeing adapted (1) to move toward and away from each other during eachcycle of operation and (2) to alter the relative lateral locationtherebetween between first and second locations once during each cycleof relative movement of said dolly and said die toward and away fromeach other, said recess in said die being aligned with said body portionof said rivet in said first relative location during a first cycle ofoperation, said closure head forming means being aligned with said bodyportion of said rivet in said second relative location during a secondcycle of operation.
 3. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said means for forming the closure head on the body portion ofsaid rivet is a groove in the front face of the die laterally spacedfrom said recess having a width smaller than the diameter of the bodyportion of said rivet.
 4. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said means for forming the closure head on the body portion ofsaid rivet is a planar position of the front face of said die.
 5. Ariveting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said rivet has acylindrical head and wherein said body portion thereof is to be pressedthrough the sheets to be riveted, whereby the body portion of said rivetprojecting from the sheet may be moved toward said die to form saidclosure head when said dolly and said die are in said second relativelylocated position.
 6. A riveting apparatus according to claim 2, whereinsaid rivet has a head on one end which is imbedable into said sheets sothat said head is flush with one side thereof and the body portion ofsaid rivet may be formed to provide a closure head.